Cop: Thief's eyes twin pools of fear and regret'

READING, Pa. (AP) — An eastern Pennsylvania police detective may have a career as an author of hard-boiled detective novels after writing that “twin pools of fear and regret swelled” under the eyes of a suspect charged with stealing brass railings from a courthouse.

Reading police say 45-year-old Korby Beck of Leesport swiped the railings from the Berks County Courthouse in April. WFMZ-TV reported Friday that Beck was caught on surveillance video.

Reading police Detective Christopher Bucklin says in an affidavit that he asked Beck why he did it. Bucklin wrote: “Twin pools of fear and regret swelled under heavy eyes as Beck managed to cough up the words, ‘I was just so tired of being poor....’ The statement lingered as Beck sank into his chair.”

Beck was charged with theft and related offenses. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.